ECE230 - Language and Literacy 1: Foundations
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)* |
| Credit point(s) | 1 |
| EFTSL value | 0.125 |
| Unit chair | Trimester 1: Sarah Ohi |
| Cohort rule | This unit is only available to students enrolled in E330, E333 or E334 |
| Prerequisite | Students must have passed 5 credit points at level 1 |
| Corequisite | Nil |
| Incompatible with | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment | 1 x 3-hour on-campus seminar per week in non-placement teaching weeks NIKERI (CBD): 1 x 1-hour online seminars per week for 8-weeks |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment | 1 x 2-hour online seminar per week in non-placement teaching weeks |
| Typical study commitment | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Note*Community Based Delivery (CBD): only for students of the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute (located at the Waurn Ponds campus) | |
Content
In this unit, students will be introduced to current theories, curricula and practice in early years language and literacy learning and they will evaluate how these can inform teachers’ planning and practice. Students will review how young children learn language, drawing on knowledge of the components of language, key concepts and developmental processes. Opportunities will be provided to apply their knowledge to the planning of play-based learning experiences for young children. A range of developmentally appropriate assessment strategies will be explored and applied to support children's early language learning. This unit supports students to know and understand their role in extending and enriching young children’s language learning. Additionally, this unit encourages students to develop autonomy and agency in professional learning by creating artefacts for their professional portfolio that will demonstrate their growth and expertise in teaching children’s language development.
Learning outcomes
Each unit in your course is a building block towards Deakin's Graduate Learning Outcomes - not all units develop and assess every Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO).
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Evaluate and explain the relationship between language and literacy development of children aged 0-5 years and the implications of this for teaching and learning. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication |
| ULO2 | Examine key theoretical and pedagogical perspectives on language and literacy for infants and toddlers and apply this in creating opportunities for language development. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication |
| ULO3 | Critically evaluate the non-verbal and verbal communication skills of children, with consideration of cultural and linguistic diversity, and apply this in planning for children’s learning. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking GLO8: Global citizenship |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Creating opportunities for toddler talk | 2000 words or equivalent | 50% | Week 5 |
| Assessment 2: Quality books and dialogic reading with young children | 2000 words or equivalent | 50% | Week 10 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for ECE230 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit fee information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.